Written Answers Friday 14 March 2008

Scottish Executive

Enterprise

Liam McArthur (Orkney) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has undertaken any assessment of the availability of training courses for people wishing to set up small craft businesses, such as those producing jewellery, ceramics, furniture, textiles and glass, and what the conclusion was of any such assessment.

Fiona Hyslop: Skillsfast-UK, the sector skills council for the craft sector, in partnership with the Scottish Government, has carried out research in the craft sector with a focus on the Highlands and Islands. Part of this research looked at the business start-up training and training in business skills delivered in Scotland by the business gateway.

  The conclusion of this research was that there is still a need for generic business training within the craft sector. Skillsfast-UK will continue to work in partnership with the enterprise networks and other stakeholders to ensure that the supply of business training meets the demand from within the sector.

Enterprise

Liam McArthur (Orkney) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to support or encourage the development of new training courses for people wishing to set up small craft businesses, such as those producing jewellery, ceramics, furniture, textiles and glass.

Fiona Hyslop: The Scottish Government will continue to support the work of Skillsfast-UK, the sector skills council for the craft sector, in encouraging employers to utilise the business start-up training and training in business skills delivered by the business gateway in Scotland.

  Skillsfast-UK is a key partner in the development of training courses for their sector, including business skills and the Scottish Government has reaffirmed their role in Scotland as stated in Skills for Scotland – a lifelong skills strategy.

Justice

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will make a statement about establishing a public judicial inquiry into the Shirley McKie case.

Kenny MacAskill: The Shirley McKie case has cast a cloud over the individuals involved and has been a source of serious concern for the criminal justice system for the past decade. Previous reviews have helped to shed some light on matters, but they have not fully explained the events and, therefore, have not entirely dispersed that cloud. Public concern remains. The Scottish Government has given a commitment, therefore, that it will establish an independent, public, judicial inquiry into the case. The inquiry will be constituted under the Inquiries Act 2005 and subject to the Inquiries (Scotland) Rules 2007. In accordance with section 6 of the 2005 act, I am announcing today that the chairman will be Lord Justice Sir Anthony Campbell, one of the Northern Ireland Court of Appeal judges. At this point, I have no plans to appoint any other person to the inquiry panel.

  Having consulted with Lord Justice Campbell, as required by section 5 of the 2005 act, I have determined that the inquiry’s terms of reference will be:to inquire into the steps that were taken to identify and verify the fingerprints associated with, and leading up to, the case of HM Advocate v. McKie in 1999, andto determine, in relation to the fingerprint designated Y7, the consequences of the steps taken, or not taken, andto report findings of fact and make recommendations as to what measures might now be introduced, beyond those that have already been introduced since 1999, to ensure that any shortcomings are avoided in the future.The Scottish legal system has served Scotland well for centuries. Occasionally things go wrong. When they do, it is to the credit of the system and the country that we seek to resolve them and set matters right. The purpose of this inquiry is not to try or retry any individual for the events of the past, nor to challenge the decisions of the prosecution, the defence or the courts in relation to any of those events. Indeed, the law is quite explicit that an inquiry cannot rule on, and has no power to determine, any person’s civil or criminal liability. The purpose is to open up and understand those events and to learn from them, in order to ensure that, for the future, Scotland has an approach to the identification, verification and presentation of fingerprints that everyone can trust. For this purpose, the inquiry will have at its disposal the full powers bestowed by the 2005 act, including powers relating to access to documents and witnesses.For its part, the Scottish Government will volunteer any material that it holds and which might be useful to the inquiry. The Lord Advocate has also made clear that she will, exceptionally, make available to the inquiry any material that the Crown Office holds and which might be useful to the inquiry, including the Mackay report, Crown precognitions and reports by Crown Office officials. Additionally, if requested by the inquiry, Ministers and officials from both the Scottish Government and the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service will appear in person to provide an account of their knowledge of events. Nothing will be hidden from the inquiry.For the purposes of the 2005 act, the inquiry’s "setting-up date" is today. Lord Justice Campbell will remain focused on his existing judicial duties in Northern Ireland until the end of August and he will not be taking evidence or representations until then. It is anticipated, however, that the planning and preparatory work that is necessary for the inquiry will begin now under his guidance. Future public announcements about the conduct of the inquiry will be made by the inquiry team in due course.

Local Government Finance

Johann Lamont (Glasgow Pollok) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many draft outcome agreements have been submitted by local authorities.

John Swinney: Councils are not required to submit their draft single outcome agreements to the Scottish Government until 31 March 2008.

Local Government Finance

Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how much funding was spent by each local authority on consultancy fees during (a) 2002-03, (b) 2003-04, (c) 2004-05, (d) 2005-06, (e) 2006-07 and (f) 2007-08.

John Swinney: This information is not held centrally.

Ministerial Meetings

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list all the official engagements which were undertaken by the Minister for Community Safety during (a) October, (b) November and (c) December 2007.

John Swinney: The information requested is listed below.

  

 Tuesday, October 2, 2007
 Meetings with officials


 
 Meetings with officials


 
 Pre-Cabinet business


 
 Attendance at Cabinet


 
 Meetings with officials


 Wednesday, October 3, 2007
 Meetings with officials


 
 Meeting


 
 Interview


 
 Announcement


 
 Meeting with SE Ministers


 
 Attendance at Parliament


 Thursday, October 4, 2007
 Meetings with officials


 
 Meeting


 
 Attendance at Parliament


 
 Attendance at Parliament


 
 Meeting


 
 Meetings with officials


 
 Attendance at Parliament


 
 Other


 
 Formal Opening/Launch


 Friday, October 5, 2007
 Conference


 
 Other


 Sunday, October 7, 2007
 Interview


 Monday, October 8, 2007
 Meeting


 Tuesday, October 9, 2007
 Meetings with officials


 
 Interview


 
 Attendance at Cabinet


 
 Meetings with officials


 Wednesday, October 10, 2007
 Visit


 
 Lunch


 Thursday, October 11, 2007
 Meetings with officials


 
 Meetings with officials


 
 Meeting


 
 Meetings with officials


 
 Meetings with officials


 
 Meetings with officials


 
 Interview


 Friday, October 12, 2007
 Lunch


 Monday, October 15, 2007
 Visit


 
 Meetings with officials


 
 Media Briefing


 Tuesday, October 16, 2007
 Meetings with officials


 
 Meetings with officials


 
 Meetings with officials


 
 Meetings with officials


 
 Meeting with MSPs


 
 Pre-Cabinet business


 
 Attendance at Cabinet


 Thursday, October 18, 2007
 Visit


 
 Interview


 
 Visit


 
 Meetings with officials


 Monday, October 22, 2007
 Meetings with officials


 
 Meetings with officials


 
 Conference


 
 Meeting


 
 Meeting


 Tuesday, October 23, 2007
 Meetings with officials


 
 Meetings with officials


 
 Meeting


 
 Meetings with officials


 
 Meetings with officials


 
 Pre-Cabinet business


 
 Attendance at Cabinet


 
 Interview


 
 Meeting with SE Ministers


 Wednesday, October 24, 2007
 Other


 
 Meeting


 
 Conference


 
 Meetings with officials


 
 Meetings with officials


 
 Attendance at Parliament


 
 Meetings with officials


 
 Attendance at Parliament


 
 Conference


 Thursday, October 25, 2007
 Meetings with officials


 
 Attendance at Parliament


 
 Attendance at Parliament


 
 Attendance at Parliament


 
 Meetings with officials


 
 Meetings with officials


 
 Attendance at Parliament


 
 Attendance at Parliament


 Friday, October 26, 2007
 Conference


 
 Conference


 Monday, October 29, 2007
 Meetings with officials


 
 Conference


 
 Meetings with officials


 
 Meetings with officials


 
 Meetings with officials


 Tuesday, October 30, 2007
 Meetings with officials


 
 Meetings with officials


 
 Meetings with officials


 
 Meetings with officials


 
 Meeting with SE Ministers


 
 Pre-Cabinet business


 
 Attendance at Cabinet


 Wednesday, October 31, 2007
 Meetings with officials


 
 Meetings with officials


 
 Attendance at Parliament


 Thursday, November 1, 2007
 Meetings with officials


 
 Attendance at Parliament


 
 Attendance at Parliament


 
 Attendance at Parliament


 
 Meeting


 
 Attendance at Parliament


 
 Meetings with officials


 
 Attendance at Parliament


 Friday, November 2, 2007
 Conference


 
 Visit


 Monday, November 5, 2007
 Meeting


 
 Meetings with officials


 
 Delivery Group


 Tuesday, November 6, 2007
 Conference


 
 Meetings with officials


 
 Pre-Cabinet business


 
 Attendance at Cabinet


 Wednesday, November 7, 2007
 Committee Appearance


 Wednesday, November 7, 2007
 Meeting


 
 Meeting


 
 Meetings with officials


 
 Meeting


 
 Attendance at Parliament


 
 Meeting


 Thursday, November 8, 2007
 Meetings with officials


 
 Other


 
 Attendance at Parliament


 
 Attendance at Parliament


 Friday, November 9, 2007
 Other


 Monday, November 12, 2007
 Press Launch


 
 Press Launch


 
 Meetings with officials


 
 Media Briefing


 
 Meetings with officials


 
 Media Briefing


 Tuesday, November 13, 2007
 Meetings with officials


 
 Meetings with officials


 
 Meeting with SE Ministers


 
 Committee Appearance


 
 Meetings with officials


 
 Meetings with officials


 
 Pre-Cabinet business


 
 Pre-Cabinet business


 
 Attendance at Cabinet


 Wednesday, November 14, 2007
 Meetings with officials


 
 Meetings with officials


 
 Meetings with officials


 
 Attendance at Parliament


 
 Attendance at Parliament


 
 Attendance at Parliament


 
 Attendance at Parliament


 Thursday, November 15, 2007
 Attendance at Parliament


 
 Attendance at Cabinet


 
 Meetings with officials


 
 Attendance at Cabinet


 
 Dinner


 Tuesday, November 20, 2007
 Meetings with officials


 
 Committee Appearance


 
 Meetings with officials


 
 Meeting with SE Ministers


 
 Meetings with officials


 
 Pre-Cabinet business


 
 Pre-Cabinet business


 
 Attendance at Cabinet


 Wednesday, November 21, 2007
 Meetings with officials


 
 Meeting


 
 Meeting with MSPs


 
 Meeting with SE Ministers


 
 Interview


 
 Interview


 
 Meetings with officials


 
 Attendance at Parliament


 
 Interview


 
 Reception


 
 Dinner


 
 


 Thursday, November 22, 2007
 Meetings with officials


 
 Meeting with SE Ministers


 
 Meeting


 
 Meeting with SE Ministers


 
 Attendance at Parliament


 
 Attendance at Cabinet


 
 Interview


 
 Meeting


 
 Attendance at Parliament


 
 Meetings with officials


 
 Meeting


 
 Attendance at Parliament


 Friday, November 23, 2007
 Conference


 
 Interview


 
 Interview


 Saturday, November 24, 2007
 Other


 Monday, November 26, 2007
 Visit


 Tuesday, November 27, 2007
 Formal Opening/Launch


 
 Meetings with officials


 
 Interview


 
 Meetings with officials


 
 Interview


 
 Pre-Cabinet business


 
 Pre-Cabinet business


 
 Attendance at Cabinet


 
 Reception


 
 Interview


 Wednesday, November 28, 2007
 Meetings with officials


 
 Committee Appearance


 
 Visit


 
 Meetings with officials


 
 Meeting with MSPs


 
 Attendance at Parliament


 Thursday, November 29, 2007
 Meetings with officials


 
 Meetings with officials


 
 Meeting


 
 Attendance at Parliament


 
 Attendance at Parliament


 
 Meeting


 
 Attendance at Parliament


 
 Attendance at Parliament


 
 Meeting


 Friday, November 30, 2007
 Other


 
 Meetings with officials


 Monday, December 3, 2007
 Meetings with officials


 
 Meeting


 
 Meetings with officials


 
 Meetings with officials


 
 Meeting


 
 Meetings with officials


 
 Meetings with officials


 
 Meeting


 Tuesday, December 4, 2007
 Meetings with officials


 
 Committee Appearance


 
 Meetings with officials


 
 Formal Opening/Launch


 
 Meetings with officials


 
 Interview


 
 Meeting


 
 Pre-Cabinet business


 
 Pre-Cabinet business


 
 Attendance at Cabinet


 Wednesday, December 5, 2007
 Reception


 
 Meetings with officials


 
 Meetings with officials


 
 Meetings with officials


 
 Meeting with SE Ministers


 
 Attendance at Parliament


 Thursday, December 6, 2007
 Meetings with officials


 
 Meetings with officials


 
 Attendance at Parliament


 
 Attendance at Parliament


 
 Attendance at Parliament


 
 Other


 Tuesday, December 11, 2007
 Meetings with officials


 
 Meetings with officials


 
 Meeting with SE Ministers


 
 Meetings with officials


 
 Meetings with officials


 
 Pre-Cabinet business


 
 Pre-Cabinet business


 
 Attendance at Cabinet


 
 Meeting with MSPs


 Wednesday, December 12, 2007
 Formal Opening/Launch


 
 Meeting


 
 Attendance at Parliament


 
 Reception


 Thursday, December 13, 2007
 Meeting with SE Ministers


 
 Meetings with officials


 
 Meeting with SE Ministers


 
 Attendance at Parliament


 
 Attendance at Parliament


 
 Meeting with MSPs


 
 Attendance at Parliament


 
 Attendance at Parliament


 
 Meeting


 Friday, December 14, 2007
 Interview


 
 Meeting


 Monday, December 17, 2007
 Visit


 
 Meetings with officials


 
 Interview


 
 Interview


 Tuesday, December 18, 2007
 Meetings with officials


 
 Meetings with officials


 
 Meeting


 
 Meetings with officials


 
 Pre-Cabinet business


 
 Pre-Cabinet business


 Wednesday, December 19, 2007
 Interview


 
 Cabinet sub-committee


 
 Meetings with officials


 
 Formal Opening/Launch


 
 Other


 
 Attendance at Parliament


 
 Interview


 Thursday, December 20, 2007
 Meetings with officials


 
 Meetings with officials


 
 Attendance at Parliament


 
 Attendance at Parliament


 
 Interview


 
 Interview


 
 Meeting


 
 Attendance at Parliament


 
 Attendance at Parliament


 Thursday, December 27, 2007
 Visit

Museums

Malcolm Chisholm (Edinburgh North and Leith) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when the £3 million capital funding earmarked for the Mining Museum, the Maritime Museum and the Fisheries Museum will be distributed to them.

Linda Fabiani: As I have made clear before the case for affordable and sustainable capital investment in the industrial museums will be examined as part of ministers’ consideration of the overall capital plans for culture. To inform these decisions I intend to invite the chairs and chief executives of the three museums to meet me to discuss the business case for capital investment.

Olympic Games

Liam McArthur (Orkney) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what measures are being taken to ensure that Scottish venues included in the London 2012 Olympic Games training camp guide are able to maximise the opportunities that this presents.

Stewart Maxwell: We will be discussing very soon with sportscotland, and other relevant bodies such as VisitScotland and EventScotland, on how and when we can best engage with representatives from these venues to ensure they maximise the opportunities that being included in the LOCOG Guide will bring. We will be in touch with the venues soon after.

Olympic Games

Liam McArthur (Orkney) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what role VisitScotland is envisaged to have in maximising the benefits to the Scottish venues included in the London 2012 Olympic Games training camp guide.

Stewart Maxwell: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-10759 on 14 March 2008. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.

Post Offices

Robin Harper (Lothians) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive what work is being undertaken by Scottish Enterprise to support the business development of sub-post offices.

Jim Mather: Communities Scotland’s £250,000 Scottish Business Improvement Training for Sub-postmasters (SBITS) programme, which closed in 2007, was aimed to increase the business skills of sub-postmasters in deprived urban and rural areas. The programme also helped to build capacity within Scottish Enterprise and Highlands and Islands Enterprise business advisers of the particular needs of this sector.

  The capacity building provided through that programme will help the enterprise networks provide more tailored support to sub-postmasters/mistresses over the medium to long term.

Student Finance

Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how much is being invested in the Young Students’ Bursary scheme in 2008-09 and how much was spent on the scheme in 2007-08.

Fiona Hyslop: Applications for student support in the 2007-08 academic session are still being received. To date, £67 million has been committed to the Young Students’ Bursary Scheme (YSB) for students studying in Scotland and this may rise to £68 million. The investment in YSB for 2008-09 will be driven by the number of students who apply for and are eligible for support.

Wind Farms

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-9591 by Jim Mather on 25 February 2008, when it will make a determination on the proposed Kyle windfarm application.

Jim Mather: I refer to the answer given to parliamentary question S3W-9591 and restate that ministers expect to make a determination on this project shortly.

  All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.

Correction

The reply to question S3W-7720 which was originally answered on 20 December 2007, has been corrected: see page 2735 or http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/pqa/wa-08/wa0310.htm.

Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body

Information Technology

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body how many hits there were on Scottish Parliamentary Standards Commissioner’s website in (a) 2005-06 and (b) 2006-07.

Mike Pringle: The number of hits on the Scottish Parliamentary Standards Commissioner’s website was 23,267 in 2005, 20,339 in 2006 and 23,463 in 2007.

  The number of visitors to the Scottish Parliamentary Standards Commissioner’s website was 1,575 in 2005, 1,580 in 2006 and 1,579 in 2007.Definitions:Hit - A request for any file (page, image, etc).

  Visitor - The number of visitors is determined by the IP addresses. If a request from an IP address came after some time (timeout) since the last request from this IP, it is considered to belong to a different visitor. The timeout is set to 1,440 minutes. Visitors from large organisations may share the same IP address so actual visitors may be higher than the statistics reflect.